etpm
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Bondo. Really.
How to repair carpenter bee damage?
- Thread starter plowhog
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MossRoad
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As other's mentioned, drill the holes to a known size and plug with wood the same size and some waterproof glue. Cut flush with an oscillating multi-tool.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Is the wood cedar? Here, I get hired to replace the wood. My clients have already tried filling the holes, and they just come back and make more holes. Once the wood is replaced, I spray it down really thick with Dawn Dishwashing Soap that mixed about 50/50 with water. They hate the feel of the Dawn on the wood and they go somewhere else. This works for wasps too!!!
I like the idea of using liquid nails. I never tried it, but think that it might work.
I like the idea of using liquid nails. I never tried it, but think that it might work.
s219
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I plug the bee holes with a cork and then trim it flush with a sharpened putty knife. Paint or stain over it. Fast and works well, and I got a bag of 100 corks for real cheap some time ago. The corks taper from about 3/8" to 1/2" or so, and fit the holes perfectly around here. You can really wedge them in tight and they do not budge afterwards.
I learned this trick from exterminators, who use corks to cover the holes after dusting them with Drione insecticide. The cork protects the Drione so it lasts 6+ months, enough time to kill any bee larvae that were already inside galleries in the holes and will eventually mature and try to crawl out.
I modify the procedure a bit -- when I see an active hole, I dust it. If there was an adult bee inside, they will stagger out. I've seen as many as 4-5 stagger out of a hole! Then I dust again and leave the hole open for a couple more days to get any other adults that might visit the hole. Then I cork it, trim it, and paint/stain over the top. Never had a bee try to come back to a corked hole or tunnel out from a corked hole.
I learned this trick from exterminators, who use corks to cover the holes after dusting them with Drione insecticide. The cork protects the Drione so it lasts 6+ months, enough time to kill any bee larvae that were already inside galleries in the holes and will eventually mature and try to crawl out.
I modify the procedure a bit -- when I see an active hole, I dust it. If there was an adult bee inside, they will stagger out. I've seen as many as 4-5 stagger out of a hole! Then I dust again and leave the hole open for a couple more days to get any other adults that might visit the hole. Then I cork it, trim it, and paint/stain over the top. Never had a bee try to come back to a corked hole or tunnel out from a corked hole.
Midniteoyl
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I've used this on pressboard siding before. Light sand, paint, sell
Torvy
Super Member
I guess this is mildly off topic, but a) I had never heard of carpenter bees, apparently they do not live in the Dakotas b) this seems to be a good argument for vinyl or metal siding. I was thinking about wood, but I have no desire to spend part of my retirement filling bee holes. A!so, I don't want to use insecticides outdoors if it can be avoided.
A little more on topic, once patched, would a coat or two of paint stop them? May want to check with a college like TAMU. They seem to be good at insect abatement.
A little more on topic, once patched, would a coat or two of paint stop them? May want to check with a college like TAMU. They seem to be good at insect abatement.
Richard
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What are the general thoughts on this (the following)
We get them little SOB's.... unrelated, I'm debating on replacing the guttering. The fascia behind the guttering seems to be their favorite chomping ground.
(never mind the 9 traps I had that were filled with dozens and dozens and dozens of them)
Anyway, what are the thoughts on replacing the natural wood fascia with one of those composite boards?
For the bees, I'm thinking they're not going to touch/bite it.... but I'm unsure how it would hold up with the gutter attached to it?
We get them little SOB's.... unrelated, I'm debating on replacing the guttering. The fascia behind the guttering seems to be their favorite chomping ground.
(never mind the 9 traps I had that were filled with dozens and dozens and dozens of them)
Anyway, what are the thoughts on replacing the natural wood fascia with one of those composite boards?
For the bees, I'm thinking they're not going to touch/bite it.... but I'm unsure how it would hold up with the gutter attached to it?
I use Permachink to seal up holes after they have been purged of critters and filled with WD40.
You can't "repair" the wood carpenter bees have drilled holes into, only seal them up to prevent them from nesting and drilling some more.
If they've gone unchecked for too long your wood loses structural integrity. They are very destructive and will cause you structural problems if ignored too long.
You can't "repair" the wood carpenter bees have drilled holes into, only seal them up to prevent them from nesting and drilling some more.
If they've gone unchecked for too long your wood loses structural integrity. They are very destructive and will cause you structural problems if ignored too long.
